The General Epistles - Part 10

Well, greetings once again. So we're ready to steady God's word here this evening. So I ask you to turn to 1 Peter chapter 2, and we left off in verse 13.

Verse Peter chapter 2 verse 13. Admit yourselves to every ordinance of man. Why do we want to do that? It gives the answer for the next clause here. For the Lord's sake. So we are to obey the laws of the land because we say that we are Christians. We say that we are led by God, the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, and so God wants us to behave in a way that brings glory to Him and that does not cast dispersion upon Him. So it is for the Lord's sake, even though you may have difficulty with it. I have difficulty staying within the speed limit, and there are different laws that man has made and were asked to be in subjection to the laws of the land. It goes on to say whether it be to the King as supreme, the ultimate authority in the land, or unto governors as unto them that are sent by Him for the punishment of evildoers. So the government is there for a function, and that is to keep law and order, to keep the peace, and hopefully that would be the first order of government, and for the praise of them that do well. And of course the government has a way of praising those that do well. In the church, I think sometimes we are not do as well as we could do, and praising the efforts of others and their service to the brethren. But that is sort of a different subject, but we should all take heed.

For so is the will of God. That is, that we would be in subjection to all authority that is ordained of God. Of course, the exception is what's given in Acts 5.32, that we're to obey the laws of the land, except when they interfere with the law of God. That with well-doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. Now remember that Paul is writing, I mean Peter is writing, to people that are new in the faith, as we talked about in 1 Peter chapter 1. Those that are strangers, pilgrims, scattered abroad in Asia Minor and in the immediate Middle East area. As free and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness. And even though some things may be a lot lawful, the Apostle Paul writes that all things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient. And when Paul says all things are lawful for me, he's talking about everything that is within the law of God is lawful for me. Obviously, he's not talking about any other law that might be categorized as sin.

So use your cloak as a liberty as a servants of God, not for any kind of maliciousness, or to rub your liberty in somebody else's face. So you do that as free and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as a servants of God. Honor all, and in italics it has men, honor all, love the brotherhood, and we're to love each other fervently with unfeigned love. And we covered that in 1 Peter chapter 1. The admonition there is that we love the brotherhood, not expecting anything in return.

We love them because we love them. Fear God, honor the King. Of course, last night we had the State of the Union address by President Trump, and whether or not you agree with the politics, as one Democratic senator said from Pennsylvania, Federman said that, well, I honor him in the recent days. If for no other reason than he is the President of the United States of America, the country in which I live, I don't have to agree with every one of his policies to honor the office and where to honor the office of those who are in authority. Then he goes to servants in verse 18, servants be subject to your masters with all fear. It's not that you necessarily fear them in the wrong way, but you want to be respectful and to do the right thing when it comes to serving the masters, not only to the good and gentle, and of course this is the great trial, and this is a measure of how we might grow in grace and divine favor with God as we shall see, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the but also to the froward, those who don't treat people as well as they should.

For this is thank worthy. Guess what the Greek word for thank worthy is? The Greek word for thank worthy is grace, and grace is the word that is most often translated as faith.

The Greek word there is charis, this is charis with God. In other words, this is divine favor. You want favor from God? Then you follow these instructions. For this is grace, it is charis.

If a man for conscience toward God, you're doing it for the sake of God, but you want to to please God first and foremost, not necessarily just to the person for this, for conscience toward God. The word conscience is the knowing within yourself. If you have a good conscience, you do not feel guilty, you do not feel condemned. It is the knowing within yourself toward God. Endure grief, suffering wrongfully. You do it for God's sake. You don't do it for the person's sake necessarily. You don't necessarily do it for your sake, but you do it for the sake of God. He says to do these things for God's sake, for divine favor, charis.

Now verse 20. For what glory is it when you are buffeted, when you're brought to task for your faults, and we expect to be brought to task when we mess up as we say, you shall take it patiently, but if when you do well and suffer, and you suffer for it, you take it patiently, this is, guess what that word is? The Greek word here is acceptable. The English word is acceptable. The Greek word is once again charis. This is grace with God. When we bear something, when we've been mistreated, if we bear it as Christ was able to bear his burdens before he was crucified, of course Christ had a great trial all of his life. He was accused of being illegitimate and all kinds of things being possessed of the devil, but he did not strike back in life kind.

For here and to were you called. Part of our calling is to set an example to those who haven't been called, and one of the greatest things that we can do is to set the example before unbelievers or hear it to where you call because Christ also suffered for us, and a description of that suffering is given in Isaiah 53, which we will talk more about in just a moment. Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow in his steps. And so what are his steps? Then his steps are described, who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth, but when he was reviled, reviled not again.

When he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself that judges righteously. So we remember the account that is given in the Gospels where Jesus Christ went to the Garden of Gethsemane before he was betrayed by Judas, and he prayed, if it be possible, if it be your will, that this can be done some other way, please let this cup pass from me.

So Jesus Christ was not a some wild-eyed, suicide-oriented person. He wasn't a kamikaze. He wasn't about to dive into the fire, just to be in the fire and to commit suicide. He was there for a purpose, for a reason, to fulfill the plan and providence of God and what he had agreed to do, which account is given in Philippians chapter 2 verses 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, what he did that he took on the form of man and he gave up his glory and he lived in the flesh, who his own self bear our sins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead to sin should live unto righteousness by whose stripes we are healed. Now a lot of people mistake this phrase here, by his stripes you were healed, and they talk about, well, Christ took a beating, they took his back, and they used what they call the cat of nine tails that had sharp scrap mail on the end of it, and when you lay the whip on someone's back and you yank the whip back the flesh as the metal digs into the flesh, and of course blood begins to seep out. Now the fact of healing is given in Isaiah 53, and we want to turn to Isaiah 53, and we want to master this, what we're going to talk about here in just a moment here in Isaiah 53, and Isaiah 53 and verse 5. Isaiah 53 describes the suffering of Jesus Christ, or what all they did to him, but notice Isaiah 53 verse 5, but he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we were healed. Now in the Bible, and in Bible speak oftentimes, sin and breaking of the law of God is used in the metaphoric sense for a sickness, a disease. This is all about being healed in the spiritual sense. It's not about being healed in the physical sense. We continue with this in verse 11. He shall see the travail of his life, essence, his soul, and shall be satisfied by the knowledge shall my righteous servants justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities. It's all about bearing their iniquities on the state. He bore their iniquities. The reason Jesus Christ gave his life and his life blood, and life is in the blood, was to pay for the sins of the world. Baptism, as we shall see a little later in this chapter, is not what saves you, although the verse seems to indicate that. We will talk about that in a moment. It is the blood of Jesus Christ he gave his life that we might be reconciled to God the Father. So, he gave his life for our sins, for our lawlessness. Back up here in Isaiah 53 to verse 7, he was oppressed, he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth very similar to 1 Peter 2. Opened not his mouth, he is brought as a lamb to the slaughtering of sheep before her shears is done, so he opened not his mouth.

Was taken from prison and from judgment, and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living, he was killed. For the transgression of my people was he stricken.

He was killed because of our sins, and the only way we can be reconciled to God and be qualified to receive the Holy Spirit is that our sins be cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. So, by his stripes we were healed. Now, the word healed, we're back into 1 Peter chapter 2 now. 1 Peter chapter 2.

By his stripes we are healed. So, in 1 Peter 2.24, once again, it says, by his stripes we were healed. Now, the Greek word for healed here is e-a-om-e. It is spelled, and this is very important, it is spelled i-a-o-m-a-i. It is pronounced e-i-o-i-e. So, four syllable word, e-i-o-e.

And it means to be made whole. It can mean to be healed, but it can also mean to be made whole. That is to be made whole in every sense of the word.

And we are made whole. We're not necessarily healed in the physical sense by the blood of Jesus Christ, but by the blood of Jesus Christ, by his death, we are reconciled to the Father, as it says in Romans chapter 5, and therefore we are eligible then to receive the Holy Spirit. And then in Romans 5, 10, and 11 it says that we are saved by the life of Christ. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is very important because if he were not resurrected, we wouldn't, the Holy Spirit would not have been sent. We would not have been reconciled to God, and on and on it goes. So the resurrection is a very important part of the whole process.

So, continuing here in verse 25, For you were asleep as sheep, going astray, but are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop of your life essence. The life essence. If you are in Christ and you die in Christ, you will not experience the second death, and you will be raised as a glorious radiant spirit being in the kingdom of God. Now we go to chapter 3. Likewise, in the same way that you are called on to be subject to the civil authorities, for God's sake, wives are called on to be in submission to their husbands. So in 1 Peter 3 and verse 31, it says likewise. In other words, in the same way that we talked about in chapter 2, you wives be in subjection to your own husbands, that if any obey not the word, they also may, without the word, be won by your conduct or by the conduct of the wives. It is the conduct, of course conversation is a part of it. In the Strongs, one of the definitions given is by your behavior. You don't necessarily have to give a sermon and say, it says such and such in Romans chapter 5, having been reconciled by the death of his son, which should be saved by his life, it's by the way you live your lives. So that he can be won over, that is the husband by the conduct of the wives. So 1 Peter chapter 3 and verse 2, while they behold your chaste conduct, coupled with fear, and once again this word fear doesn't mean fear in the sense of, it can mean fear or be put to fear, but it is the healthy kind of fear that you understand that the reason that, the same reason that all of us are being subject to the civil authorities, the same because it reflects on God and wives are to be in subjection to their husbands, because if they don't, it reflects on God because that is the order that he is set up in the family. And in 1 Corinthians chapter 11, not turning there, it gives that God is ahead of Christ, Christ is ahead of man, man is ahead of woman, parents are the head of children, and so on.

Who's adorning? Let it not be that outward of plaiting the hair and of wearing of gold or of putting on of apparel, but let it be the hidden man of the heart. That is in the heart, the innermost being of a person. And the way that I explain that, and it seems that some people just almost naturally have this, it is like we are to be loved as Christ the love.

It is the way you are. In other words, subjection to your husband is just the way you are. You don't have to put it on. It's just the way you are. It is from the heart who's adorning.

Let it not be that plaiting of the hair and of wearing of gold or of putting on of apparel. Now, putting on of apparel, if we turn to Ezekiel 16, we will see there in Ezekiel 16 that God dressed up Israel when he called him out.

They were in a terrible state. He washed in the symbolic sense, he washed the afterbirth off of them, cleaned them up, made them whole. In Ezekiel 16 and verse 8, Now when I passed by you and looked upon you, behold, your time was the time of love.

I spread my skirt over you and covered your nakedness. Nakedness is metaphorically used in the Bible as symbolized sin. Yes, I swore unto you, entered into a covenant with you, the old covenant.

And you said to Lord God, and you became mine. Then I washed you with water. Yes, I thoroughly washed away your blood from you, anointed you with oil. I clothed you with ordered work, chawed you with badger skin. I girded you with fine linen.

I covered you with silk. I decked you with ornaments. So there's nothing wrong with wearing jewelry. I decked you with ornaments. I put bracelets upon your hands, a chain on your neck. I put a jewel on your forehead and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown upon your head. And on and on it goes. You were decked with gold and silver and your raiment, fine linen and silk and broidered work. You did eat fine flower and honey and oil. And you were exceeding beautiful and you did prosper into a kingdom.

So when God called out Israel, they were in a sad state and he put jewelry upon them. But it's what God is getting at here that is more important. And we'll read verse 31 again, 1 Peter 33, who's adorning, let it not be that outward, adorning of plaiting of the hair, wearing of gold, though there's nothing wrong with that, as we read from Ezekiel 16. When God called Israel out and cleaned him up and they entered into the old covenant with him, or a putting on of apparel, but it let it be the hidden person of the heart in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

And so, subjection really is a way of living. It is from the heart, just as we are to obey from the heart, and it's a way of living. For after this manner, verse 5, for after this manner in the old time, the holy women also who trusted in God adorn themselves, being in subjection under their own husbands. Even Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord, whose daughters you are, as long as you do well and are not afraid with any amazement.

So, you don't have to be afraid of walking on eggshells, but you are to be in subjection, as it says here. And it is assumed that the husband would be in subjection, and that he would love his wife, as it says in 1 Corinthians, he would love his wife, even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. He laid down his life in sacrificial love for the church. In light manner, husbands are called to lay down their lives into his sacrificial manner for their wives, and that is treated next in verse 7.

Likewise, you husbands dwell with him according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel. And of course, we have the big furor still going on, should women, should transgender people, especially the women who have transgendered into being male, so-called males, or if it's the other way, where males have transgendered into being females.

Likewise, you husbands dwell with him according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel. Even the Bible says that the woman is a weaker vessel, and she does not have the strength. She doesn't. Basically, there are two main hormones that are secreted by females as estrogen and by males as testosterone, and it is from testosterone that the male gets their characteristics of hair on their face, sometimes hair on their body and chest, and so on.

And women do not have that as a general rule, and if they do, it is only very light, which they can pluck off or do whatever.

So, the husbands are to dwell with them as the weaker vessels, and as being heirs together are the grace of life. And here's this word, carous, again, is translated, grace, in this case, being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not injured.

Because if one tries to lord it over their wives, if husbands try to lord it over their wives, then God will not view that favorably, and he may withhold his grace, his divine favor from them.

And women, if they do not be in subjection to their husbands, then God may withhold his divine favor from them, so that your prayers be not injured. So, this has a lot of consequences connected to it. I want to talk about grace for just a moment here in the nominal world of Christianity. Oftentimes talks about, by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves. That's from Ephesians 2.8, not realizing what the pronouns there in English, are Greek, just the same as English. The pronoun must correspond to the gender of the predecessor. In this case, it is eternal life that you are saved and given eternal life, not by yourselves. It is through the grace of God. You are saved by grace, and that not of yourselves. That not of yourselves modifies being saved. You're not saved.

You're not saved by your own efforts per se, but there are conditions to being saved. Like Peter said on the day of Pentecost after he gave his inspired sermon, it says in Acts 2.37, they were pricked in their hearts and they said, men and brethren, what shall we do? And Peter said in Acts 2.38, we shall be baptized, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Of course, he didn't go into repentance. He didn't go into faith and the sacrifice of Christ and the blood of Christ and all of that. But he gave the answer by saying that it is a gift. You receive a gift of the Holy Spirit, and it's based on repentance and obedience to the Word of God. Grace provides the method. God in his grace provided a sacrifice. He provided Jesus Christ. He provided a means that through the preaching of the Word of God, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, as in Romans 10.17, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. So, we are saved through repentance, faith in the sacrifice of Christ. We are baptized to show that we're varying the old man and coming up as a new person, as we'll talk about in just a moment. But grace provides the means, the way, where we have to act on the grace. When we hear the Gospel preached, if we do not repent and exercise faith in the sacrifice of Christ for the remission of sin, then even though grace is available, we must claim it by through obedience. And it's a reciprocal thing that when we do what we should do according to the conviction that we're convicted by the Word and Spirit of God, then God provides the grace. He provides the means whereby you can be saved in the ultimate sense.

Okay, so a lot of people talk about grace as if it's some kind of spirit like the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Holy Spirit, as it says in Zechariah chapter 4 and verse 6. It says, not by power, not by might, but through my Spirit, says the eternal host. So God works through, He does works of power through His Spirit. Can God be separated from His Spirit? Those who would teach the Trinity, they teach as if the Holy Spirit is a separate person, and they separate the Holy Spirit from God. God is Spirit, and He does works of power through His Spirit. So I hope you'll understand that grace is God's divine favor. He favors you with the means and the ways to salvation, but you must participate in it in order to receive the gift. We continue here suffering for righteousness sake. This is 1 Peter 3 verse 8. Finally be you all of one mind, having compassion, one of another. Love as brethren, be pitiful. This word here, pitiful, is more aptly translated as sympathetic, tender-hearted. Be tender-hearted, be sympathetic, be courteous, not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrary-wise. Do the opposite. Blessing, knowing that you are there unto call, that you should inherit a blessing. You're going to inherit a blessing if you do it in the way that God has ordained, that we should respond in all cases.

And if He has given us clear instructions as to the way that we should respond, for He that will love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. You do not speak any guile. You're yea as yea, you're nay as nay. And there is no pretense. There's no feigning of words. There's no flattery involved. It is no guile. Let him eschew evil, stay away from evil, and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it, for the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers. But the face of the Lord is against those that do evil. So when we go before God, one of the first things that we do, as in the case of Daniel in Daniel chapter 9, his great prayer which was answered, and he was shown the meaning of the prophecy, is that we confess our sins, and we make sure that we are reconciled to God. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers, but the faith of the Lord is against them that do evil. We have a lot of people that have left the church over the past several decades. And you know that now, January the 16th of 2026, that Mr. Herbert Armstrong has been dead 40 years. That those that are, we might as well say 50, because it's really, you might start having some big concept of God at ages five, six, when parents teach their children how to how to pray, they say their nightly prayers, and they then go to bed. But generally speaking, those that are 45 years and younger, they know nothing about the history and so on of Herbert Armstrong and all the things that he went through. And he was not perfect by any means, but I asked him to add that I probably wouldn't be in the church were it not for him. But he is not to be worshiped, only God is to be worshiped. There it says, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, set him apart, not man, sanctify the Lord God and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks for a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. And when we answer someone with regard to why we do what we do, basically we we have the Bible. The Bible, the Word of God, is our standard barrier. If it's not in the Bible, of course, then you have common sense that you can reason.

As it talks about Paul, reason with them on every Sabbath day. This is in Acts 19 to verse three or four verses. He reasoned with them out of the Scriptures. So we reason with them out of the Scriptures and we let them know from the Scriptures what the Scriptures really say.

The world is giving over to Sunday worship. This nation, if you heard the State of the Union last night, one of the remarks that was made probably didn't register with many people, but with me because I have an ear for that. Because I suspected one of these days they're going to require all of us to worship on Sunday instead of Sabbath. And we know that we must worship on the Sabbath. And that's what the Word of God says. That's what Christ did. That's what the apostles did. That's what the Word of God says. And that's what we are to do. Having a good conscience that whereas they speak evil of you as of evil doers, they may be ashamed and falsely accused you of good conduct in Christ. I've told several people that I come in contact with here in Tyler in recent times that I keep a seventh gay, a Sabbath. And they don't want to talk anymore about religion. They oftentimes bring up religion, but after you let it be known that you are a Sabbath keeper, they don't want to talk anymore. Because most people know what the Bible clearly says, and even the civil authorities and the Catholic Church itself admits that it changed the Sabbath to Sunday. So it would help bring about unity in the Roman Empire. It was a political decision, more than a religious decision by far. But it was done under the guise of a good conscience and unity. For it is better if the will of God be so that you suffer of a well-doing than for evil-doing. And of course, we're called on to obey God unless it conflicts with the law of God. For Christ also has once suffered for sin and the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit, as we read from 1 Peter chapter 1, and is given in several other places in the Bible, that the Father raised Him from the dead. And Romans 8, 11 says that by the same Spirit that dwells in us, by the same Spirit that He raised Jesus from the dead, He will make alive, or quicken, or make alive our mortal bodies, resurrect us as glorious radiant Spirit beings. By which also, that is through the Spirit, He went and preached unto the spirits in prison. Now are the next two verses, which sometime were disobedient, the angels were placed in a state of restraint. This is given in 2 Peter chapter 2, which is called Tartaroo, which sometimes were disobedient when once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah. So according to genealogies, God waited some 1,656 years before He said, I've had it with this generation. The thoughts and intents of the heart of men were continually on evil, as Genesis 6 verse 16. While the ark was preparing for in a few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. So they were in the ark at the top of the water. Now our difficult Scripture, and you'll have to listen closely, the light figure, were unto even baptism, now does also save you. Or reading the kimchings, the light figure were unto baptism, does also now save us. Now this is a problem Scripture has been discussed and hashed for centuries, but it is quite simple if we get what it's really saying. You see, they were saved on top of that. They were saved on the water. It wasn't the putting away of the filth, the flesh as in baptism. When you go under the watery baptism, if you would draw a line across your piece of paper, draw sort of a wavy line, and draw a stick man under that line. Draw a line, a wavy line to indicate the top of the water, then draw a stick man under the water, that is baptism, where baptism symbolizes the death of the old man. This is covered in detail in Romans chapter 6, the first few verses.

So you put to death the old man, and he's buried, and in the putting away of the flesh, but we are saved by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And we are saved by Jesus Christ being resurrected and him sending back the Holy Spirit, as it says in Acts chapter 2.

Now we will turn to Romans chapter 6, and we'll see once again more clearly what we're talking about in Romans chapter 6 and verse 3. Know you that, that so many of us, as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death. So that's the old man under the water. It's under the wavy line. Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death, not salvation, but it is an ordinance of the church and of the Bible that like as Christ was raised up from the dead. So it's not that washing away of filth or being under the water, but like Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall also in the likeness of his resurrection, knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not live or serve sin.

So baptism per se does not save us, but it shows that under the old water, under the water, the old man is crucified and put to death, as we just read here.

So Christ when the ark was being prepared and preached to the lost spirits in prison, in Tartar as in 1 Peter chapter 2, the like figure where even that baptism does now save us, that is, when we are raised up out of the water. Now notice the parenthetical expression, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh. It's not that part. It's not the death part of under the water, but the answer of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And so when we come up out of the water, we are to keep that old man buried under the water.

So the putting away of the flesh under the water, that is not what saves us, but the life of Jesus Christ and having a good conscience toward Jesus Christ is what saves us. Who is going into heaven is on the right hand of God. Revelation chapter 3 verses 20, 21, 22, say that he is now seated at the right hand of God on his throne. And in Revelation chapter 20, verses 3, 4, and 5, it talks about thrones were cast, and we're going to sit on thrones in the kingdom of God. Who has gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God, angels and authorities, and powers being made subject unto him. Now let's turn to Romans chapter 3 once again.

I'll see which one do I want.

Yeah, we've already turned to Romans on top of the water. The old man is put to death on top of the water. Galatians chapter 3 talks a little bit about this. Let's turn to Galatians chapter 3.

Galatians chapter 3. And we'll start in verse 3. And you, are you so foolish, having begun in the Spirit, are now made perfect by the flesh, having suffered so many things in vain, if yet be in vain, he therefore administers you the Spirit and works miracles among you. Does he do it by the works of the law or by the works of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness, knowing you therefore that they which are of faith the same are the children of Abraham.

And the scripture foreseen that God would justify the nations, everybody, Jew and Gentile, through faith, preached before the gospel under Abraham, saying, you shall all the nations be blessed.

And of course, later on in the verse, in the chapter, it says in verse 18, For if you, for if inheritance be of the law, it is no more a promise, but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serves the law, it was because of transgressions till the seed should come by to whom the promise was made. It was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Now, a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid. Or if therefore there had been a law given which could have given life fairly righteousness, should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ, not the faith of Christ, but in Christ, might be given to them that believe. So, what purpose did the schoolmaster serve? It was to bring us to Jesus Christ. And so, we read in Galatians chapter 3 verse 28. There is neither Jew nor Greek. There is neither mom nor free. There is neither male nor female. There is, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you be Christ, then are you Abraham's seed, and it airs according to the promise. So, we enter into baptism to put away the old man who raised the newness of life, and God gives us his spirit. Now, Christ plays a role in it. That he sends the Holy Spirit to us, and the Holy Spirit is shed on us through Christ. Look at Acts chapter 2. Acts chapter 2.

And let's begin, and I'll have to find the verse on 1.

Acts 2.23, therefore being by the right hand of God, exalted and having received of the Father, so Christ received of the Father, the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has shed forth this which you now see and hear.

For David is not ascended unto the heavens, but he said himself, the Lord send unto my Lord, sit you on my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made the same Jesus whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. And then they said, what shall we do? And Peter said, repent and be baptized. So, once again, it's after baptism that we're raised in newness of life and live the resurrected life. And now Christ is seated on the right hand of the Father. Let's read one more scripture before we close. Let's go to Revelation chapter 3 in verse 19. I think Revelation chapter 3. Revelation chapter 3 verse 20. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come into him and will sub with him, share a meal with him, a feast with him, and he with me. To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am sat down with my father in his throne.

He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches. So I hope we understand that verse 1 Peter chapter 3 verse 21.

It is that baptism symbolizes the putting away of the filth of the flesh, and where to keep that under the water. Then we're raised in newness of life to serve God with a pure conscience. So now we come to the end and we'll ask you if you have any question or comment.

Any question or comment by any of you? Surely there must be some comment. I would like to thank all of you who tuned in tonight. We had 27 people, and of course it's a little more than that because sometimes there are two or three listening at one place. So any question or comment?

Dr. Ward in Galatians 3 29 as you read, if we're of Christ, then we are of Abraham's seed. This is why Gentiles could be called part of Abraham's seed because all have to go through Christ to be Abraham's seed, spiritual speaking. Yeah, that's covered in verses 15 and 16 where it says, not of seed as of one, but of seeds as many. So it's Jew and Gentile. In Romans 3, it says, if he is the God of the Jews, only know but of the Gentiles also. Yes, and I talked about that last time where a lot of people today in the nominal Christian world and the messianic Jews talk about, well, if you bless Israel, then God gives you a blessing because I will bless them and bless you and curse them and curse you. And that is speaking of the Israel of God.

It's just that the Jews didn't think that the Jews built a house of... They're going to call it an international house of prayer, is what I've read from Jewish sources.

And all nations are going to be required or encouraged, I don't know if required or encouraged, to honor that house of prayer. Of course, we know that the true house is God's house, the Church of God, and the last two or three chapters of Ezekiel talk about the Church of God and how God sits on the throne.

Do we have any other questions or comments? Dr. Ward. Yes.

I came across a man then worldwide, and he left when he was 18.

And we had an interesting conversation. He knows all about United and all the world wide. But he believed in the Quran.

As he mentioned the author giving information from Gabriel, the angel.

I was going to tell him that I don't believe that Gabriel talked to him. No, there are a lot of sources that refute that.

That Gabriel ever talked to an angel and dictated the Quran to anybody.

The Quran is of human sources, as far as we know.

I was going to tell him, man shall not live by bread only, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. And then the Quran comes along, and we should go by every word of the Quran? No. No, that's correct. Who is saying this?

A driver where I work. Oh yeah, some more place where you work. And he's a wise and humble man. We had an interesting conversation. Yeah, I can hardly hear you. I did hear just what you said.

They're trying to enforce Sharia law. Even in Texas, Michigan has a section where Sharia law is being pretty much enforced, and the officials that have been elected have been elected by Muslims. And the same is the case in Minnesota. For a representative there, she was elected by the Muslims in her district.

But hey, Kay, would you have any other questions or comments? Okay, we'll see you in two weeks. It'll be in the month of March. Anybody have the date?

You know, it's two weeks from tonight.

The 11th?

It'll be the 11th of March. Two weeks from tonight. Okay, good night everybody. Good night. Good night, Dr. Ward. Thank you. Good night.